Normal to be sad?

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cowchick14

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May 9, 2011
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Indiana, USA
Okay, so I just started showing beef cattle in December of 2010. The first show I ever went to was Hoosier Beef Congress(awesome show btw) and I loved it. I have only been to two shows so I have only been in a show ring 5 times. County fair is right around the corner and although I am super excited I will be showing my steer, I am so sad that I will have to auction him off afterwards. He was the very first cow I had EVER shown. Yea, I had a heifer at Beef Congress too, but he was actually the first one I ever took into the ring. Is it normal to be upset that I will have to get rid of him, or am I just being a big baby? I mean we have bonded and he is a wonderful animal to work with. So easy to show. I may not be the best showman ever(yet) but I owe it to him to do well at fair. We are also going to a show this weekend. I guess I better just enjoy the next couple weeks before I worry about the auction.

P.S  Thanks for reading! I hope you post something! lol
 

jaimiediamond

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Aug 23, 2010
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Okotoks
Yes its normal to be sad. Selling your steer the saddest and hardest part of showing cattle (at least for me).  Good luck at the fair
 

cowchick14

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May 9, 2011
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Indiana, USA
Yea I think it will really be hard for me too, especially since this is the first time I will have to do it. It sucks that they make you stand with your animal as people are bidding on it. And thanks!
 

cowzrus

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Jan 30, 2008
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It's very normal, but you also have to understand it is part of what goes into being a food producer.  I am in my late 30's and to this day I get very sad when we sell one of our babies, or when my daughter auctions off one of her steers, many a tear have been shed, including the over the premature calf I just had last night.  It just means you have compassion and respect for the animal and that obviously you have put the time and care into producing an exceptional product. Just remember you are an american farmer, a Rancher, and a food producer, and if you didn't care for the product you have produced both emotionally and physically you would not have these emotions. So double kuddosto you for having compassion and respect to your product/project.
 

cowchick14

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Indiana, USA
Thanks! I am a huge animal lover and I am a city girl so being apart of production has been a great experience and you really learn a lot. I guess it really is just a part of it, and at some point you have to learn that is how it has to be. Thanks for your post! You mentioned you have daughters? If you don't mind me asking, how old are they and how long have they shown?
 

cowzrus

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One, she has shown since she was nine  she will be 17 in Nov and a sr this year it's her last year :(. We have all the Ex show heifers in cow herd.A complete family affair.
 

cowchick14

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May 9, 2011
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Indiana, USA
Oh I see. Well I am sorry it is her last year. She has shown for a loooooong time! Do you think she will continue to show? and haha wow, that is really awesome!
 

cowzrus

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Jan 30, 2008
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No pretty sure she is done, it's time for college, Momma needs a vet in the house haha.  She may help at some open shows if we decide to pursue it.  Just depends.
 

cowzrus

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Jan 30, 2008
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Will do and good luck to you.  Always remember to put pride in your product!!!!
 

cowchick14

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May 9, 2011
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Indiana, USA
Here is a picture of me and my steer, Red, at Beef Congress, our first show!
 

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LittleHeifer

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Mar 24, 2009
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You are def. not being a baby. I have even see the big tough guys break down into tears when it comes time to sell and load onto the tuck. it is sooo difficult to say goodbye to the babies you have raised. This year will be my 7 and 8 market animals and I will cry for them in july and august the same as i did for the last 6. I am 19 now and have been doing this almost 5 years now. It never gets easier to say goodbye, you get attached, but you learn to deal and help others to deal. You learn to teach yourself that they are raised for that but you never learn not to get attached so you never learn not to cry when saying goodbye. Its a difficult task not to be taken lightly. cherish the time you have with him. Always remember that you gave him a good and spoiled life with lots of love.
Little Heifer (angel)
 

Sassy2899

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Aug 11, 2010
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397
Being sad is most definitely normal.  Two years ago one of my friends showed a steer his last year of 4-H, when it came time to sell the steer the whole 4-H club cried with him because everyone had become attached to the dang thing.  I cried and I hardly ever cry about things.  (lol)
 

jbzdad

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Jan 21, 2009
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southwestern Kansas
I am probably a big wus but I get sad when I have to haul butcher calves to the packing plant... I mean you spend the rest of the time caring for the rats... now you are taking them to their end!

 

simbreeder

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Mar 11, 2009
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Don't for one second feel bad or embarrassed.  We've been showing steers and heifers since 1994.  First time this family hit the ring with a steer.  I come from a family of me and the three younger sisters, which meant 4 kids, 10 years each, a steer apiece, and with the final year for our steers being this year puffy makes number 40.  The only kill show we go to is our local county fair and it's easy to see, not only by which steers are quiet, but who actually made that bond with their steer/mkt heifer.  Even if its a small tear or putting them on the trailer and taking off to be alone you can tell who's put the time in, with a stick, a brush, and the rinse hose.  For the longest time I was embarrassed at myself for letting it all get to me, but when it comes down to it, it's watching the kids that bring their steers to the trailer and making the innappropriate comments about that steer that you'll learn to take pride in the fact that you did it right.  When you put the time in, you make that bond, and you find that those calves become as much as a part of your family as that pain in the butt farm dog that you don't know what you'd do if he wasn't there as well as have their own quirks that you'd swear they were part human.  But in the end as herf put it, it's part of being a producer.  And if you take as much pride in that steer's well being as it sounds, then young lady you did it right.
 

cowchick14

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May 9, 2011
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Location
Indiana, USA
Thank you all for posting. I am glad that I am not the only one out there that makes strong bonds with animals. thanks to you, I have learned that its a part of the project, but it is okay to get attached. And you are so right, when you have to see the darn animal every single day, you have to begin to love them or it is no fun to work with them. I will definitely be extremely upset when the time comes and I will really enjoy the time before the auction. I have decided to work extra hard on him because I feel I owe it to him to win something! haha and I guess I can't be sad for too long. Eventually I will meet my new show animal. I think I will have a heifer next year! haha well once again thank you and for all of you taking stock to county fair, good luck! be sure to let me know how it goes:)
 

linnettejane

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Mar 6, 2008
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eastern ky
yes its normal, i showed steers for 10+ years, and i cried just as hard with last as i did with the first...i was terrible about getting attached to them... i understood what i was getting myself into, and i tried really hard not to get so attached, but it never failed...it helped me though to get my next calf as soon as possible after i sold my steer...i can already see this same emotional attachment in my daughter, she cries terrible when we even talk about selling an animal...shes  not even old enough to show steers yet, she's only 6...but i have a feeling we will be showing heifers instead of steers with her
 

cowchick14

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May 9, 2011
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Indiana, USA
Oh well thanks. I am really glad that so many people are replying! It makes me feel tons better knowing that everywhere there is someone that has to go through the same difficult thing. It is so hard to not get attached. They are wonderful creatures and I think it is extremely important to bond with your animal. haha well I hope she enjoys showing as much as I do. lol it seems she takes after you! haha well thanks again
 

cowchick14

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May 9, 2011
Messages
34
Location
Indiana, USA
The day is getting extremely close...I am beginning to really become upset. Also I have a question...at auctions, do you show them or just stand with them as people bid? I haven't done this before, and I haven't done a very good job of spreading the news of my steer, I don't know anyone that would bid on a cow! do you think that people will still bid even though no one really knows of him?
 

linnettejane

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Mar 6, 2008
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2,233
Location
eastern ky
i would suggest getting a list of last years buyers and making a couple personal visits to some of the businesses...you could say something like "my name is........., im in the (name of your club), this is my first year taking a market steer, i just wanted to thank you for supporting the 4-h/ffa livestock auction in the past and invite you to attend this years sale also!"  then give them some kind of literature with sale information on it....it will make an impression with buyers...but i dont think you should say 'will you please buy my animal?"  that kind of puts the buyer on the spot, and makes them uncomfortable if maybe they support by buying a pen of rabbits rather than a market steer, huge cost difference between the two!  main thing is to show your appreciation for their support to the program...

here's what most kids at our fair do....
day of the sale, clean! clean! clean!!!  everything is spotless!  if they sold something last year, there is a poster up thanking last years buyers! it being  your first year, you could make a sign stating this is your first year and have it hanging above your animal... most kids are ready to greet buyers an hour or two before the sale starts...be with your animal...so you can greet buyers as they walk thru the barns, introduce yourself to them, tell them a little about your project (like your steers name, breed, weight, and something fun you've experienced or learned with the project), and thank them for coming!!!!!!  ...be creative!  you could make a flyer with cute pictures of you and your animal on it to pass out...

in the ring, most people set their animals up....make a few circles....sometimes the animals get nervous because its a small area, lots of people, and a real loud auctioneer screaming into a microphone, just dont try to do to much....make eye contact with the audience and smile!!!  but if you feel the need to cry...its ok too! 

as soon as our kids walk out of the ring and they put their animal back in the stall, they deliver a picture and a "supporter" banner to the buyer and give them a quick thank you....then they go back to their stall and put up a  new "thank you (buyer) for buying my 2011 market steer" sign, so alot of times when the sale is over and everyone leaves, they already see their name above the animal they just bought....buyers like to see their names above animals as supporting the youth of the community
 
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